How do you prepare for all the walking?

I get out for a walk once or twice a day with my husband and our dog.

My feet are usually a bit sore at the end of a Disney day, but in a good way!
 
Hey OP, how are things coming along with your walking?

Last week I did 2 days in a row again and had sore shins again.

This week I've done 2 long walks but not back to back. I walked today though and will tomorrow so i will know at the end of tomorrow or by Monday how my shins will be this time with back to back walks.

Hope those kids are enjoying the childcare better and your finding time to get there.
 
Hey OP, how are things coming along with your walking?

Last week I did 2 days in a row again and had sore shins again.

This week I've done 2 long walks but not back to back. I walked today though and will tomorrow so i will know at the end of tomorrow or by Monday how my shins will be this time with back to back walks.

Hope those kids are enjoying the childcare better and your finding time to get there.

Thanks for asking. The kids are liking the daycare much better. However, hit a snag with a nasty sinus infection, so I haven't walked since Monday. Started on antibiotics today but still feeling crummy. I am hoping that I will get back to feeling better soon so I can get back to walking next week.
 
Hey OP, how are things coming along with your walking? Last week I did 2 days in a row again and had sore shins again. This week I've done 2 long walks but not back to back. I walked today though and will tomorrow so i will know at the end of tomorrow or by Monday how my shins will be this time with back to back walks. Hope those kids are enjoying the childcare better and your finding time to get there.

Sounds like you need better arch supports in your shoes!
 
Thanks for asking. The kids are liking the daycare much better. However, hit a snag with a nasty sinus infection, so I haven't walked since Monday. Started on antibiotics today but still feeling crummy. I am hoping that I will get back to feeling better soon so I can get back to walking next week.

oh no :( It's HORRIBLE when a sickness puts you off track! I was sick for most of May and it really threw me off! I was SO not ready for the 5k I registered for after that because I was only ready to start some jogging about mid June :( Oh well, it was more of a fun run so it was all good. I hope you were able to kick the infection fast and get back at it. So far I'm STILL getting shin splints every time i do a walk or walk and/or jog 2 days in a row! I'm getting frustrated about it!!!

Sounds like you need better arch supports in your shoes!

Thanks for that pointer. If you read what i just commented Im getting very frustrated with this problem so I am going to take your advice and get some better arch support. I really thought I should be covered when I went to the Running Room for a shoe asesment but I should have known it wasn't all that helpful because of a few things that made my DH and I think it was just a way to get extra money out of people :(
I do happen to have quite big arches so I'm going to see if I can fix the problem with arch support.
 
When I was having shin pains, I switched to shoes with metatarsal support (support under the ball of the foot), and my shin pain went away. In fact, everything felt better, right up through my back. There are very few shoes with metatarsal support, and they're expensive. I've been buying the ABEO shoes, which I get at Walking Company. Just be sure the box says "M" under the size number, and that's how you know you've got shoes with the metatarsal supports.

It is also important to change your shoes every day or two. You don't want to wear the same shoes too many days in a row, or that will cause more foot pain and fatigue.

My #1 tip, though, for the parks, is to make sure you wear WATER shoes. If you couldn't wear it to the beach or hiking through a creek, don't wear it to the park. Your feet will sweat and/or you'll get your feet drenched in a ride, in the rain, in an odd puddle... something. There is nothing more miserable (or blister inducing) than wet shoes that don't dry quickly. I pretty much always wear shoes to the parks that are meant for the beach or hiking through creeks.
 
We do some walking around our local parks, and have learned through trial and error to go with trusty, well-worn Nikes and moisture-wicking socks!
I also have plantar fasciitis, so a good pair of cushioned supports are always in my sneakers.
 
We will be at DL in 6 weeks and I just started this week getting back on my elliptical and switching off with strength training every other day. I was doing so well before our cruise last year but completely fell off the bandwagon after. That was seven months ago. Eek!

FWIW, I think that most sandals, especially one that doesn't attach to your ankle will aggravate shin splints. Something about the shoe bouncing off your foot with every step seems, at least for me, to aggravate them. There are some videos on YouTube of exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles around the shin bones that are suppose to help too. Finally, stretch before you go to the park, every day.
 
Just wanted to jump in here and suggest a Fitbit for keeping track of how much you walk each day and building up. Then bring it to the parks and see how much you did. I have the Fitbit One, it's a little think with a digital readout that clips to your pocket or bra. You can see how many miles you've walked as well as flights of stairs climbed and hours slept. I took it with me to WDW this June and we walked an average of 10 miles a day (13 on the last day when we park hopped 3 times and walked to The Contemporary).

We are thinking that we probably do even more walking at DLR because we walk to and from the parks, walk back for a nap in the afternoon and do a lot of park hopping. I can't wait to see how walking at the two places compare next summer.
Anyway, the Fitbit has made it fun and sort of a game. They even email you "badges" when you reach certain walking milestones.

Now that I'm back and off work for the summer I've only walked a mile each day. I think I've rested enough. Time to get back to walking which I do enjoy.

Oh, I also brought a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of Go Walks, and several Crocs flats. I usually wore different shoes each day and/or switched half way or for evening.
 
Anybody ever try the gels you slip in your shoes, like Dr Schulz? Was thinking of going that route; bringing an extra set of shoes for the fam means less luggage space...

I used the gel inserts! They worked great for me! It just helped with general fatigue. I still use them at home.
 
Do you wear good shoes in the parks? You can do all the preparation in the world, but if you don't have the right shoes, you will still have pain.

I second that! I know when I start to get shin splints it's time for a new pair of sneakers!

If sneakers make your feet too sweaty, try different socks. There are ones designed for running that will help (they're not cheap though).
 
I'm attempting to lose weight but most importantly raise my stamina level before our September trip. I've been doing Zumba, swimming, walking and cycling. I'm typically a pretty lazy person and therefore I'm fairly overweight. I wear a women's size 18 jean, sometimes a 16 on a really good day. haha! So, I'm hoping that'll work for me. :)
 
I don't know if this has been mentioned but one other thing to be wary of is foot blisters. There are various types of products available to help you avoid blisters but just rubbing vaseline on your feet can often be enough.
 
So, arch supports didn't help me :( I did a 5k walk with them and half way through I had to take one out because it was causing the TOP of my foot to ache really badly. and no, it wasn't because the shoe was pressing on it as I made sure to take that into account and even adjusted it while walking. The one foot was fine but my right foot hurt SO bad on the top :confused3

Today I used another pair of runners and this time the big ball near my big toe is in a good amount of pain.

I have another pair of arch supports I want to try that seems a bit smaller so I will continue to try different things until i figure out what works for me to NOT have shin splints or any other kind of pain.

OP keep us posted on how it's going for you.
 
So, arch supports didn't help me :( I did a 5k walk with them and half way through I had to take one out because it was causing the TOP of my foot to ache really badly. and no, it wasn't because the shoe was pressing on it as I made sure to take that into account and even adjusted it while walking. The one foot was fine but my right foot hurt SO bad on the top :confused3 Today I used another pair of runners and this time the big ball near my big toe is in a good amount of pain. I have another pair of arch supports I want to try that seems a bit smaller so I will continue to try different things until i figure out what works for me to NOT have shin splints or any other kind of pain. OP keep us posted on how it's going for you.

Was that the first time you wore the supports? If so, you have to ease into them. Don't just put them in and do everything.

I'm going the opposite direction and getting my feet used to minimal support. Same thing. You have to take it slow. :)
 
So, arch supports didn't help me :( I did a 5k walk with them and half way through I had to take one out because it was causing the TOP of my foot to ache really badly. and no, it wasn't because the shoe was pressing on it as I made sure to take that into account and even adjusted it while walking. The one foot was fine but my right foot hurt SO bad on the top :confused3

Today I used another pair of runners and this time the big ball near my big toe is in a good amount of pain.

I have another pair of arch supports I want to try that seems a bit smaller so I will continue to try different things until i figure out what works for me to NOT have shin splints or any other kind of pain.

OP keep us posted on how it's going for you.

Ugh! I feel your pain. My feet are so freaking picky. However, I have figured out how to avoid shin pain after many years of it. After each walk, take a good couple of minutes to stretch your calf muscles (or throughout the day at Disney). I find standing with my toes on the edge of a stair or curb and letting my heels drop the best way but you can always stretch one leg back and lean forward until you feel the stretch. On top of this, do calf raises whenever you think about it to strengthen and loosen your calve muscles. When I started doing this, my shin pain went away.

I've always struggled with foot pain. The only things that work for me are really high end walking shoes. Keens are my latest favorite. Unfortunately I go through them fast as the instant they start to wear down, my feet whine and complain. Dr. Scholls custom fit orthotic inserts (from that fancy machine you can stand on in the store) worked surprisingly well too.

Best of luck!
 
My favorite music for training for races (especially Disneyland races) is Disney parks show/parade/fireworks music because it tends to be upbeat and relatively fast-paced, especially the parade music. Plus, listening to Disney music while training for the 2013 Tink 5k and the 2014 Tink 1/2 really reminded me of why I was putting my body through torture (I'm still not a runner, so that 14 miles on the training schedule right before the 1/2 was brutal).

My mom swears by 10 Minute Trainer whenever she's too busy to get a full work out in. They aren't super easy in terms of difficulty level, but they are only 10 minutes long.

OP: Some malls and community centers have walking groups that will get together to do laps around the mall or other local venue, so you might want to check with the malls in your area to see if there are any walking groups that exercise there.
 
So, arch supports didn't help me :( I did a 5k walk with them and half way through I had to take one out because it was causing the TOP of my foot to ache really badly. and no, it wasn't because the shoe was pressing on it as I made sure to take that into account and even adjusted it while walking. The one foot was fine but my right foot hurt SO bad on the top :confused3

Today I used another pair of runners and this time the big ball near my big toe is in a good amount of pain.

I have another pair of arch supports I want to try that seems a bit smaller so I will continue to try different things until i figure out what works for me to NOT have shin splints or any other kind of pain.

OP keep us posted on how it's going for you.

Have you considered seeing a podiatrist? It's not cheap, but if you do think it's your feet, a podiatrist can have a pair of inserts made up specifically for you, and can even have them customised for each foot if that is required.
 
I agree, try to see a podiatrist if you can! After years of having trouble with my feet, I finally saw one a couple of months ago and it's made a huge difference. Not only can they fit you in custom orthotics, but they can give you a recommendation on what brand/type of shoe you should be wearing. Just buying the shoes my podiatrist recommended made a HUGE difference for me, even before my orthotics came in.

Even my knees are feeling better since I got the custom orthotics, btw.
 
Was that the first time you wore the supports? If so, you have to ease into them. Don't just put them in and do everything.

I'm going the opposite direction and getting my feet used to minimal support. Same thing. You have to take it slow. :)

ooh, good thinking!! I will try that.

Ugh! I feel your pain. My feet are so freaking picky. However, I have figured out how to avoid shin pain after many years of it. After each walk, take a good couple of minutes to stretch your calf muscles (or throughout the day at Disney). I find standing with my toes on the edge of a stair or curb and letting my heels drop the best way but you can always stretch one leg back and lean forward until you feel the stretch. On top of this, do calf raises whenever you think about it to strengthen and loosen your calve muscles. When I started doing this, my shin pain went away.

I've always struggled with foot pain. The only things that work for me are really high end walking shoes. Keens are my latest favorite. Unfortunately I go through them fast as the instant they start to wear down, my feet whine and complain. Dr. Scholls custom fit orthotic inserts (from that fancy machine you can stand on in the store) worked surprisingly well too.

Best of luck!

Thanks, I gotta try and be consistent about doing stretches and stuff so i will give that a go too.

Have you considered seeing a podiatrist? It's not cheap, but if you do think it's your feet, a podiatrist can have a pair of inserts made up specifically for you, and can even have them customised for each foot if that is required.

I agree, try to see a podiatrist if you can! After years of having trouble with my feet, I finally saw one a couple of months ago and it's made a huge difference. Not only can they fit you in custom orthotics, but they can give you a recommendation on what brand/type of shoe you should be wearing. Just buying the shoes my podiatrist recommended made a HUGE difference for me, even before my orthotics came in.

Even my knees are feeling better since I got the custom orthotics, btw.

so they will reccomend ugly shoes probably right??? :(
haha, just kidding. I maybe should see one. I suffered from problems with my right leg (hamstring and sit bone area) for quite some time. Nobody could figure it out - massage, chiro, and even physio!! I gave up after spending TOO much money and the physio was stumped! Maybe my problem actually stems from my foot!?
 





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